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Poor Moses.
Poor, poor Moses.
The more I realize just how much I relate to the Israelites, the worse I feel for Moses. He had to lead these people out of Egypt and listen to them moan and complain and worship other idols and even wish they were back in Egypt!! He was SO fed up. (And if it weren’t soooooooo sad, his reactions would also be super super funny!)
I found this interesting passage in Exodus 18. In this case, Moses is acting as a priest. The Israelites bring their problems and questions to him, he inquires of God, then reports back with the answer.
But he’s EXHAUSTED. This activity is:
- all day
- open to everyone
- a lonely job; Moses is the ONLY one capable of doing it
We can learn a lot from this story.
01. Check yourself: are you doing too much?
Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, is straight-up with him: “What you are doing is not good.”
Are there any routines in your life or people that are less-than ideal? Maybe you find yourself
- running home to do self-care EVERY night instead of staying after class to talk with friends
- skipping devotions so you can get in a longer workout
- feeling bad after seeing your high school bully on social media
- feeling disgruntled after reading the news every morning
Be honest with yourself! If you’re finding yourself in negative thought patterns or routines, it’s time to be switch it up. Nothing’s gonna change if nothing changes. In other words, there’s a reason what’s happening is happening.
02. Check yourself: how’s your mental life?
Do you find yourself feeling:
- Stressed
- Overwhelmed
- Disgruntled
- Discontent
- Snappy
- Negative
- Cynical
Jethro w continues his speech: “You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you.”
Are you feeling worn out?
03. Check yourself: Are you carrying things that are too heavy?
There’s a move we used to do on the soccer team, and I tried it out at the gym the other day. I forget what it’s called, but basically you hold a really heavy kettlebell in one arm and walk across the room, trying to stand up straight.
It’s difficult because you aren’t balanced; one half of you is weighed down by the kettlebell, but you must walk like everything is normal.
We do this in life too often, don’t we? We pick up a 50-pounder because it looks easy or it’s the same color as our leggings or we feel stronger today. But then, we’re clomping across the gym trying to walk like a normal person and . . . we’re leaning. We’re lean, lean, leaning. And, embarrassingly enough, we might even drop that kettlebell.
Then everyone sees.
Everyone knows.
We aren’t meant to carry super heavy burdens by ourselves. Jethro noticed this and told Moses exactly that. “You are not able to do it alone.” (Vs. 18)
We aren’t meant to carry super heavy burdens by ourselves. Jethro noticed this and told Moses exactly that. “You are not able to do it alone.” (Vs. 18)
The answer
The first step is noticing something is wrong. Something is too heavy, something is out-of-place, something is kicking us out of our groove.
Next, we have to recalibrate.
Listen to wiser people.
“Now, obey my voice.” (Vs. 19)
Perhaps someone at your church is noticing you’re struggling. Maybe a mentor is hitting on it. Whoever they are, be willing to humble yourself and admit that they’re right: you CAN’T do everything, and you’re sinking a little bit right now.
Do all things with God’s power.
“. . . I will give you advice, and God be with you!” (Vs. 19)
No task with God’s blessing is impossible. No task without God’s blessing is possible. Perhaps you should be able to do everything you’re doing, but you’re going about it the wrong way. Are you asking for God’s help, or are you thoroughly relying on your own strength?
Don’t try to take the place of God in other peoples’ lives.
“Represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.” (Vs. 19-20)
We can’t solve everyone’s problems. As women, I feel we are especially prone to being Obsessive Fixers.
Often, we just must be the people to point friends and family back to Jesus. We must, like Moses, “warn them about the statues and the laws” and “make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.”
We can’t fix the situation. Our advice isn’t infallible, and surely won’t heal every heartache. But we know the God who CAN do these things, and more.
Delegate.
“Look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times.” (Vs. 21-22)
This is probably the most practical tip here, but it’s a good one!! Did you know delegating tasks is BIBLICAL?
If you’re stressed because you’re doing a million things at church, find someone whom you could mentor in this area to take over. If you’re stressed at school and can’t find time to do devotions because of it, ask if you can take that off your plate.
Oh Beloved One has A LOT of components, and I’m so blessed to have a great team that helps me with some of the harder tasks like emails, captions, and writing articles for the magazine and taking photos. I want to do everything, naturally, as a perfectionist and overachiever and control freak.
BUT that just isn’t sustainable! (Or biblical. The church is a body, but we should also order our lives around that. We were all built to complement each other; we work better as a team!)
Know what matters and what doesn’t.
“Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves.” (Vs. 22)
Sometimes we insert ourselves in situations that just really don’t matter. Whether it has to with a friend or it’s a personal situation, just let go of the smaller things that don’t matter.
This even comes down to things like, don’t sign up for things you don’t want to do and know you really shouldn’t do. Don’t start ANOTHER instagram account or blog when you know your extra time should go somewhere else.
Find a good community.
“So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.” (Vs. 22)
A good community will “bear the burden with you.” They’ll also keep you accountable and let you know when your plate is getting too full . . . and the plates are dropping.
Follow God’s leading.
“If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” (Vs. 23)
God blesses His people when they do His will. He honestly doesn’t have to, because just DOING His will is a blessing enough. But nope! He still wants to give us more and more and more. So there’s an added benefit to doing what you’re supposed to do in the way you’re supposed to do it for the one whom you should be doing it for!
